Scotland hit by 'severe' weather

A huge tree landed on a petrol station's shop roof in Edinburgh

Treacherous weather conditions across parts of Scotland have caused trees to be uprooted and traffic lights and motorway signs to be knocked down.

BBC Scotland weather forecaster Gail McGrane said southern and central Scotland had been the worst hit areas on Friday with gales moving north.

The Lothians were being hit by severe gales while Dumfries and Galloway measured 75mph gusts.

The bad weather is due to move to the Grampians by Saturday.

In Edinburgh, a huge tree was uprooted with the force of the wind. It landed on a Shell Petrol Station in Comiston Road around lunchtime.

The garage will be closed until later on Saturday while repairs are made to the shop's roof.

Traffic lights were blown over in the capital's Comiston Road at 1450 GMT and a sign came crashing down on the eastbound carriageway of the city bypass at the Gogar Roundabout at 1330 GMT.

A stretch of Melville Drive was later closed at Argyll Terrace after large tree branches smashed onto the road.

The wind caused bins to litter a road in Bathgate

A 36-year-old mother-of two, who drove from Grangemouth to her home in Glasgow on Friday afternoon, described conditions as "hideous".

"It was really, really bad. I can't remember the last time I experienced anything like that," she said.

"There were waves of water coming towards you on the motorway and you couldn't see anything. It was like being in the sea.

"I stopped at traffic lights in Rutherglen and my car was moving so much it was like being in a bouncy castle."

Ms McGrane said: "There is treacherous weather hitting Southern and Central Scotland with severe gales and very heavy rain.

"I would expect structural damage especially as similar conditions on Tuesday has caused things to loosen.

"The weather should ease off for this area by Saturday as it moves to the Northern Isles."

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